Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have uncovered the ruins of an ancient agricultural estate at the site of Kh. Kafr Ḥatta in Kafr Qasim, central Israel.
A mosaic floor in a building at the archaeological site of Kh. Kafr Ḥatta, Israel. Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The size and splendor of the buildings discovered, the quality of their mosaic floors and the impressive agricultural installations, all point to the great wealth and prosperity of the local Samaritan community over the years,” said IAA archaeologists Alla Nagorsky and Daniel Leahy Griswold.
“The site of Kh. Kafr Ḥatta is described in historical sources as the birthplace of Menander, the Samaritan magician, successor of Simon Magus, who was considered the father of the Gnostic sects and one of Christianity’s first converts.”
In one of the buildings, the archaeologists found a magnificent mosaic floor decorated with a dense geometric pattern and vegetal images.
“Alongside its central medallion are acanthus leaves combined with rare decorations of fruits and vegetables – such as grapes, dates, watermelons, artichokes and asparagus,” they said.
“In the entrance to this room was a partially preserved Greek inscription wishing the building’s owner Good Luck!”
“The owner’s first name was common in Samaritan communities.”
In the northern part of the estate, the researchers found an olive press, a spacious warehouse building and a miqveh (public purification bath).
“The proximity of the oil press to the miqveh was probably used to produce olive oil in purity,” they said.
“The olive press was carefully planned, consisting of two wings.”
“The northern wing contained the main production areas, while auxiliary rooms were erected in the southern wing.”
“In the production areas, two screw presses were found, as well as a large crushing basin in which the olives were crushed.”
“This type of olive press is more typical of the Jerusalem region and the Judean Shephelah and is less common in Samaria,” Dr. Nagorsky said.
“Over the years, the estate saw dramatic changes.”
“The wealth and luxury of the buildings were replaced by oil production and agricultural installations.”
“New walls damaged the mosaic floors, and the magnificent capitals and columns were integrated within the new walls.”
According to the team, these changes are related to the Samaritan Revolts under the Byzantine rule — a series of uprisings in 5th-6th centuries CE against the Byzantine emperors, who enforced restrictive laws on members of other religions.
“What makes this site particularly interesting is that unlike some of the other Samaritan sites that were destroyed in these revolts, the agricultural estate in Kafr Qasim actually continued in use, and even preserved its Samaritan identity — as evidenced by the Samaritan ceramic oil-lamps uncovered in our excavation,” Dr. Nagorsky said.
“This is a fascinating site, which displays the historical gamut between the days of prosperity and the decline of the Samaritan community,” Dr. Nagorsky said.
“Its long-term existence and impressive findings will allow us to reconstruct its history over centuries and will enrich our knowledge about this population in ancient times.”
